Introduction - The Genealogy and Topography of Twin Peaks

Abstract

The Cambridge Dictionary defines ‘genealogy’ as ‘the study of the history of the past and present members of a family or families’. The word itself traces its roots back to the Greek word genea, meaning ‘race’ or ‘generation’. Genealogy therefore focuses attention on the origin or genesis of a family at a fixed point in time and also on the evolution or development of a family over time. The same dictionary defines ‘topography’ as ‘the physical appearance of the natural features of an area of land, especially the shape of its surface’. The earth’s surface – or terrain – is multifaceted and consists of different features, including mountain ranges, peaks and fault lines.